Jo Ann Marchbanks

Jo Ann Marchbanks passed away peacefully, at the age of 96, on October 15, 2026. Jo Ann was born to Bill and Helen O’Donnell in Los Angeles, California, on January 16, 1930. She grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in 1947. She attended Mount Saint Mary’s College before moving to Bakersfield in 1948. She graduated from Bakersfield Junior College, where she met her husband Bruce Marchbanks. They married in 1949 and moved to Westwood where Bruce attended UCLA. After Bruce graduated, they returned to Bakersfield where they raised five children and built a Truck Stop business. Jo Ann was a busy stay at home mom and was a strong supporter of Catholic School education. She was an active parent at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School and Garces Memorial High School. She was a past President of Assistance League of Bakersfield. She thoroughly enjoyed the many vacations and trips taken with her entire family which included all her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed, and was thankful for, her bridge playing friends. They had some wonderful times together. Her husband, Bruce, died in 1984. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother and sister-inlaw, Bill and Virginia O’Donnell, her sister, Mindy Rodriguez, her niece, Molly Hansen, her nephew, Tom O’Donnell, and her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Angus and Phyllis Marchbanks. Jo Ann is survived by her children, Michael (Kat) Marchbanks, Judy Marchbanks, Janet (Mark) Stockton, Patrick (Lori) Marchbanks, Jo Ann Buehler (aka Joey) and her grandchildren, Lindy (Kevin) Keaveney, Ross (Kara) Marchbanks, Bryan Porter, Laura Porter, Kristin Smith, Martin (Lannah) Stockton and Jeffrey (Joselyn) Buehler. She also leaves nine great grandchildren, two step grandchildren, and two step great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 6, 2026 at St. Philip the Apostle Church, 7100 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield, California, 93309. A recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held at 9:00 am followed by a memorial Mass at 9:30 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hoffman Hospice or Assistance League of Bakersfield.